SOFTBALL DROPS TWO CLOSE GAMES IN ARIZONA

TUCSON, Ariz. – Two comeback attempts on Tuesday afternoon were not enough as Avila softball fell in a pair of close games, 5-3 to Dakota Wesleyan and 7-5 against Mayville State, as part of the Tucson Invite.

Against Dakota Wesleyan, Avila scored one in the first on a Stephanie Hayes sac fly and would save the remainder of their offense for the seventh inning.

Dakota Wesleyan scored three runs on two homers and an error.

Trailing 5-1 entering the seventh inning, Avila was able to wake the bats up.

The first three batters of the inning reached base. Zoleecia Grayson and Ka'Zem Wood picked up RBIs, but it wasn't enough as the Eagles fell, 5-3.

In the second game of the afternoon versus Mayville State, Avila saved their offense for the later innings as they looked to climb back in the game.

The Comets scored two in the first and used a five-run third inning to widen the scoring margin.

Trailing 7-0, Avila fought their way back in the later innings.

In the fifth, Wood and Julia Douglass singled. Wood stole two bases and Douglass swiped second, which allowed Laila Rueda to bring both of them home with a two-RBI groundout.

The sixth inning saw Avila's power arrive off the bat of a three-run Myra Megli homer and the Eagles bringing the score to within two.

Unfortunately for Avila, that was all the offense they were able to muster, falling 7-5.

The Eagles will be back in action on Wednesday from Tucson as they take on Dickinson State and Valley City State.